When I left home this morning the temperature was a balmy 15º and ten degrees lower than that in Weeksville canyon. Half a mile up the road to the trail head, as I walked past an area that I know well for its wildflowers which are sleeping now beneath the warm blanket of snow it occurred to me to match a few scenes with the flower species that are found in each.

Yes it’s a big advantage to get to know specific areas intimately. You start to understand what all goes on and how it all fits. Then I get terrified when I see the changes made in the name of progress by folks who know so little what the effects of all those changes are.

I’m really just getting into winter mode now too. We still have at least a month and a half of real winter left and I intend to make the most of it! I’m really looking forward to a snowshoe trip in Glacier when the snow build up a bit more and if I can pick a time with clear weather.

Yes, it was cold, even after the sun came out, but that’s part of a Montana winter. I like the attitude of many of the folks who live here: when the weather gets really cold and nasty, they go outside and play in it.

That does sound like a great attitude.
Here along the South Carolina coast we tend to get cold when the temps drop down to the 40s.
No problem currently however, it’s going to be 75 here today and I’ll be out on the motorcycle wearing a T shirt.
We have had the occasional snow dusting though, everyone goes nuts for a few hours. :-)

We don’t even keep the house as high as 75! I spent three years a few hundred miles north of you at Cherry Point North Carolina and for the most part, enjoyed the winters. I remember a few very cold times though. That bike ride sure sounds appealing right now!

There’s a reason we talk about a “blanket” of snow! And this is another example of how easy it can be to misunderstand nature – when I see birds in winter, I get cold thinking about them “out there” in such tough conditions, but they’re suited for it. Likewise, the flowers. They’re perfectly willing and able to wait patiently for their own new season. It’s wonderful.

I’ve seen these things for many years, and still have the feeling of amazement. The grouse here even use the deep snow to their advantage when the temperature drops to well below zero. They burrow down under the snow where the temperature is just a few degrees below freezing and they can stay warm there during the cold nights. The invented the “snow cave” for survival long before we did!

Yessir…you might remember my posts earlier in the year where I shared photos of 22 or 23 different wildflowers that I spotted on one hike…. I was amazed to find so many when I intentionally looked for them.

Hi Montucky, If it makes you feel better, it was only 35 here so far today. Icy rain all day long with lots of ice in the trees in town. Not anything bad here at the house though. I love your cheerful flower pictures. Have a great day and stay warm.

That’s quite a cold snap for you, isn’t it! It has been cold even in California the past few days. We had a little sun today and the temperature reached 33. It will be in the single digits tonight though as a result of the clear sky.